Manager’s Guide to Parental Leave

What if one of the most defining moments of trust between a manager and their team member isn’t about performance at all—but about how you respond when they share the news of a new baby?

In this heartfelt and practical episode of Manager to Manager, host Kamaria Scott sits down with Arianna Hillis, founder of Shoshanna’s Daughter, to explore how managers can support employees before, during, and after parental leave. Drawing on her personal experience as both a corporate leader and a mother of three, Arianna shares why managers play a pivotal role in shaping an employee’s sense of safety, belonging, and success during this transition.

Together, Kamaria and Arianna uncover how thoughtful leadership in these moments can strengthen trust, increase retention, and create a culture where employees thrive at work and at home.

This conversation explores how managers can:

• Respond authentically and supportively when a team member announces they’re expecting

• Partner with employees to create transition action plans before leave begins

• Use tools like keep-in-touch strategies, phased returns, and return-to-work buddies to ease reintegration

• Recognize the mental health milestones where new parents may need extra care

• Advocate for policies, resources, and best practices that set both managers and teams up for success

Arianna emphasizes that parental leave isn’t just a logistical challenge—it’s an opportunity for managers to demonstrate empathy, flexibility, and genuine care. And when managers get it right, the payoff is lasting loyalty and stronger team performance.

Whether you’ve navigated parental leave on your team before or are preparing for it in the future, this episode offers actionable strategies and a compassionate perspective that every people leader needs.

Show Notes:

Follow Arianna Hillis on LinkedIn and visit Shoshanna’s Daughter
Follow Kamaria Scott on LinkedIn | managermomentum.com